Same again for England

England have kept their faith in the players who won at Old Trafford by naming an unchanged 12-man squad for the final npower Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge this week.

Last week's stunning recovery in Manchester, when they bounced back from conceding a 179-run first-innings deficit to claim a six-wicket triumph, was enough to convince the selectors to retain the same squad when they assemble in Nottingham on Tuesday.

Despite failing to score a first-innings total in excess of 400 for 11 successive Tests, England have chosen to stick with their mis-firing top order for another match at least.

"We were delighted with the way the team fought back to win the second Test at Old Trafford and there were some excellent individual performances from Andrew Strauss and Monty Panesar which helped turn the game our way," explained national selector Geoff Miller.

"There are still areas in which we can improve on as a side. We are aware of the need to post bigger first-innings totals on a more regular basis and that we have to bowl well as a unit in order to counter the strength of the New Zealand middle order.

"But overall we are pleased with the progress the team is making and have chosen the same group of players for this Test match.

"We have won three out of our last four Test Matches and we will be looking to win again at Trent Bridge and take that momentum into the Test series against South Africa later in the summer."

Hampshire seamer Chris Tremlett, named in the squad but overlooked for the starting line-up at Old Trafford, could press his claims to play at Trent Bridge over the next week.

Tremlett has not featured since the final Test of last summer against India, but his stunning display in Nottingham last year to claim three for 12 in the second innings may improve his chances of breaking up an otherwise unchanged line-up this week.